Peter Gallagher recently finished his 11^th season as the head football coach at Ursinus.  On September 11, 2010 Gallagher became the programs all time wins leader with a 10-7 victory over Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster.  Gallagher is the 27^th head coach in the programs celebrated 115-year history and has paced the sidelines for 112 games.   Only Ursinus Hall of Fame coach and former dean of students Dick Whatley has directed the Bears in more contests.  

The 2011 season was a historic one for the Bears, as Ursinus played on newly renovated Patterson Field and hosted the first night game in school history on September 3, 2011 against Albright. Ursinus captured its first Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year award as senior linebacker Greg Martell was selected by the coaches for that honor.  Martell was also named the ECAC’s south region defensive player of the year marking another first for the program.  Senior defensive back Shane Eachus was selected as the school’s sixth First Team Academic All-American while senior wide receiver Nick Giarratano set the school’s all-time mark with 22 touchdown receptions, surpassing Ron Floyd’s previous record of 19.  Following the 2011 season, All Centennial recognition came in double digits for the third consecutive year as the Bears placed thirteen players on the prestigious team selected by the conference’s head coaches.

Gallagher led the 2010 team to an 8-2 record, including a 7-2 conference mark.  The seven conferences wins tied a school record set by the 1996 squad.  During the championship season, Ursinus attracted national attention by being ranked or receiving votes for the majority of the season rising to #21 in the AFCA coaches poll.  Fifteen players were named to the 2010 All-Centennial team as the Bears won their first Centennial title since 1996.

Gallagher guided the Bears to a 6-5 record in 2009.   Boasting a 6-2 conference mark, the Bears competed in the post season for the second time in Gallagher’s tenure.  The six conference wins were the most in Centennial competition for the Bears since 1999.

The 2007 bears finished 7-3 with a 5-3 mark in Centennial Conference play under Gallagher, marking the first time Ursinus had back-to-back winning seasons since 2000-01.

Coach Gallagher brought the bears to the post season for the first time in 2006, competing in the ECAC Southwest Bowl. The 8-3 squad also tallied a 4-2 Centennial Conference mark, finishing second in the CC.

In 2001, Gallagher guided the Bears to a 6-4 record, their third consecutive winning season. In doing so, Gallagher became the first Bears’ coach since 1931 (Jack McAvoy) to post a winning mark in his rookie season. Gallagher’s 2001 squad produced the nation’s leading rusher, two All-Americans, and the school’s first-ever Gagliardi Trophy finalist, given annually to the top player in Division III football.

Gallagher came to Collegeville from the University of Rochester, where he served as the Yellowjacket’s defensive coordinator. In 2000, Gallagher’s defense was ranked nationally in all four major categories, including scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense, and pass efficiency defense as Rochester won a share of the UCAA title. The Yellowjacket defense broke two school records, produced an All-American, and had a player named rookie of the year in all three of its affiliated conferences.

Prior to his appointment at Rochester, Gallagher enjoyed successful coaching stints at Dartmouth College, Wagner College and Georgetown University. Gallagher received his baccalaureate degree as a double major in business and government from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1993. He earned his M.B.A. from Wagner College in 1997. While at Wesleyan, Gallagher earned All-West Virginia Athletic Conference honors and was a pre-season All-American.

Gallagher has been an enthusiastic supporter of the “Be the Match” program through the National Bone Marrow Registry. Ursinus has hosted a registry program over the last few years, and recently, running back Teddy Conrad was selected as a match for a 63-year old woman battling Leukemia.  Gallagher has sat on the NCAA Division III South Region ranking committee and is an active member of the American Football Coaches Association, where he holds a vote on the national poll.

He resides in New Hanover Township with his wife Stacy and two daughters, Kaleigh and Madison.